How to Install 2000 watt pure sine inverter in Dodge Promaster van build for off grid vanlife camp
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 พ.ย. 2022
- When many van builders and designers are getting started on their Sprinter, Promaster or Transit shell they have a general idea of what the van will be like when complete. Based on how they want to use the van. Will it be a weekend warrior vehicle. Will it be for extended road trips with lots of travel. Or will the van be for living in as a nomad. Probably the result will be a combination. There will be long days spent driving, some days and nights spent in camp grounds, some boondocking and some overlanding. When planning the electrical system there are lots of choices. You may want a dc-dc charger to be able to replenish your batteries as you drive … www.canbat.com/product-catego... You may want solar panels to capture poser all day long … www.renogy.com/solar-kits/rv-... There a host of ways to generate power along the way. But most rely on storing the energy in 12 volt batteries. Either deep cycle or lithium … ca.renogy.com/200ah-12-volt-l.... No matter how you generate and store your power, getting back out to use has limited options. To use it as 12 volt you’ll be able to power your lights www.amazon.ca/Interior-Ampper..., your water pump ca.ecoflow.com/pages/portable... or your max air ceiling fan www.maxxair.com/. But 12 volt power has limitations. It can only power so much. If you’re vanlife dreams include extended periods off grid - almost like tiny home living - you’ll need a way to access a higher current to power an induction cook top www.thewaywardhome.com/induct... or water heater www.homedepot.com/p/Richmond-.... When shore power is not available you’ll need to change the 12 volt poser you have stored in the battery into 110 volt household current. You do that with an inverter. www.renogy.com/inverters/ - in video we explain how to install and test an inverter.
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Great video. I was going to install a
2000W inverter just like that in my dodge pro master van so I can run a small heater for a few hours at night and in the mourning to keep my Equiptment warm. I know I would have to keep the truck running while using the heater and I don’t mind doing that. Question is, would that be ok with that size inverter?? Thanks so much in advance and happy holidays
Hi Dan - thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. What ever appliance you want to run will have a rating of how many watts it uses at peak. As an example, small electric heaters in Canada are typically 750, 1000, 1500, 2000 watt units. (there are bigger) .... So you inverter has to be rated for at least the watts you want to use. Our 2000 watt inverter runs our 1500 watt heater with ease. And it takes the chill off no problem. After that - the question of how long it will run will depend completely on how much (how many watt hours) you have stored to use - or you can generate to use if the motor is running and you have a DC-DC charging system or the sun is out and your solar is generating .... there a bunch of variables for that end. Hope that helps ... Be Well and stop back. Dave
Dan I don't know if this will be helpful, to you but this winter I was forced to keep my Promaster extended length, extended height running all night long when my propane heater failed and temperatures dipped below freezing and winds were blowing hard. The heat generated from the vehicle's heater kept me cozy warm all night, I had no need of an additional heater. If you're going to keep the vehicle running, you might not need a space heater. I was also surprised at how little fuel it burned through the night. But I did read that leaving the vehicle idling for long lengths of time on a regular basis is hard on the vehicle.
@hellowthere4367 You fuse them to the output. Which is 150-200 amps..And you have to use the right wire size from the battery to the Inverter. Which is 2ga wire under 7 feet from inverter to battery...Most people just buy 1/0 for future upgrading..
Get a diesel heater
I counted all your waiting weeks. Came out to 6 months. That’s insane!
This video is great for learning from your mistakes. Thanks for sharing. I sized up my rennogy fuse as per manual, 250amps just cuz why not. It has the capacity so why bottleneck it with a lower fuse. Now for the rest .. its still a work in progress
Thanks for the video!
Great video, good information on the fuse setup and what it needed.
Thank EJ - I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment - I hope you'll join the community .... Dave
Very good information, thank you for sharing!
n2jmb - thank you for taking the time to watch and comment - be well. Dave
If only he'd given credit for his "original" design. This was 100% plagiarized from Will Prowse and he still fucked it up. If only he could read AND do math, it would have gone so much more smoothly.
Great video Thanks
I had exactly the same bull with Renogy customer services with a faulty 40Amp DC to DC charger, but as you say their products work well and seem well built so I too have stuck with them for my inverter but they really do need to sort the customer service issue as most people are not as patient and yoy and me😊
Hi Simon - yes I've heard soooo many people complain about Renogy customer service. But my gosh they make good products. Be well and I hope you'll stop back.... Dave
My inverter became obsolete while I was watching story time with Action Van
thanks for the video, last year, the reviews of this product were thin on the ground. I installed mine and its been faultless for over a year now. But I've read some of the comments below regards the cable thickness from your batteries going to the fuses (70a that are now 200a) and odnt see a clear response. But yes those cable need beefing up. The reason is, the fuse will allow 200+ amps through it befire it trips, but those cables are only rated at probably 80 , end result can be melted cables and at worst toasted van. But thanks for the cool video. I have 250 a fuse on my renogy and big thick 50mm2 cable (UK size) 1/0 awg US size. or yes you could double the thinnner cables together, so 2 cables for red, and 2 cables for black.
Hi John - thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment - and thanks for the close look at my installation. I totally misunderstood the earlier comments and can see exactly what you mean. I'll get on that as soon as I can. Hope you'll stop back. Be well .......... Dave
oooh, now I know how to read the monitor and why we need a 200 amp fuse compared.
Hi Christine, thanks for watching - like most guys I didn’t read the instructions !!! Hope you stop back. ….Dave
Hi, I'm responding a year later but I have an update. I just ordered a complete Renogy system. Renogy does now have a customer service phone # and an online Chat. I ordered parts from Renogy and the other Renogy parts from Amazon which is much faster shipping. Keep an eye out for my installation. Also, this was a very well-done video. Thank you.
Hands down one of the best videos I have seen about installing an inverter set up. It is insane how many people make vans about technical subjects that do a horrendous job at communicating an instructional video for other people to follow. I started van life with a 70watt cigarette plug inverter. Then I couldn't take not having more power so I upgraded to a 750 watt inverter that connects directly to my car battery. I can now run a coffee maker! But I am still not happy I want more power. I want a 2000 watt inverter so I can run a deep fat dryer to fry up my own chicken strips! Which led me to looking at buying a 2000 watt renogy inverter and i am looking at also buying the special battery as well as the solar panel kit with the controller. What a journey this has been! I have watched many van life videos and almost NOBODY talks about how to install the power system needed to run power hungry appliances like a microwave. This video was a huge help in shedding light on my new and glorious mission to understand this technology! And thanks for the heads up on the renogy customer service!
@plantmanstudios - WOW Thanks for such a nice comment. I'm really pleased you found the information useful... I agree .. when I was planning my build every video I watched tried to make things more complicated than the last one. At the end of the day it's all plug and play if you buy right. Good luck and I hope you'll top back ...... Dave
Thank you for lots of useful information. I'm about to install the same inverter and I wasn't sure how to run power from inverter to an outlet. It is like adding an extention cord for 2000W use... I was even considering installing the inverter on side of cabinet to plug items directly and to avoid adding an outlet. Extention cords can become unseated from vibration. Maybe there is a way to secure them to the inverter?
Hi Luke. Thanks for stopping by. You run the wires for the power from the inverter the same way you do for the 12 volt fixtures when roughing in. There are number of different types of wires that would work - but I just bought a heavy duty extension chord when they were on sale and cut it into the lengths I would need. There are a number of wiring videos on my channel. You find this first one helpful. th-cam.com/video/W8XOElaBEJQ/w-d-xo.html. The others too may help. Be well- stop back and let me know how you make out. Dave
Dave good morning from Ottawa.
I recently had a viewer bring to my attention a mistake that I made on the installation of our Renogy 2000 watt pure sine inverter. It looks like you and I both completed this install about the same time - about 8 months ago.
The tip the fellow shared with me was that I neglected to ground the Renogy inverter. It does come equipped with a grounding lug. When I looked at the manual, sure enough the information is there:
“… comes equipped with a grounding lug to appropriately ground to earth or to another designated ground (for example, a metal frame of an RV)…. The recommended wire size for grounding is 10 AWG insulated copper strand wire….”
Not being a professional, the value of sharing my work enables others with more knowledge or experience to share their thoughts, which I ultimately benefit from.
I recently watched your installation video to see if perhaps you missed it as well, and I don’t see it in your video either, so I thought I would share this little nugget of knowledge I acquired this morning
Kindest regards
Dwayne
Hey Dwayne !! Good to hear from you. First - Yes - I did miss this on my installation, however a viewer pointed it out to me last winter and I corrected it. Couldn't bring myself to do another video about it. Second - we will be returning to Ontario towards the end of this month - I have a bunch to do in the Cobourg area but should be in Perth towards the end of August or into September ...maybe we can meetup
Great info about the 200 amp breaker, I saw in the instructions 250 amp is recommended. Surprised inverters draw so many amps. I was going to use 60 amps but see that would not work, thanks!
Im curious on the step down on the guage from the hot line to the breaker to the battery, goes from double gauged to single guage. Not sure on the power loss that creates. Besides that, love the setup and guide. I will probably skip the breaker and use a 200 amp mega bolt on fuse from battery to inverter direct.
Hi @348rari2 - Thanks for watching and the positive feedback. I have no idea about the stepdown - I followed Will Prowse layout and installed things as they came out of the box. It seems to work as designed ....... good luck and I hope you stop back .............. Dave
Ebay sent me a nicer compressor fridge than I ordered. much nicer. i kept quiet. it's been serving me very well for years.
Mojokiss ….. I wish I was you !!!! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’ll join the community (we could use your common sense) ….. Dave
Ordered mine thru amazon
Hey Mark - I'm not a big supporter of Amazon - but I get that may not be the most common approach....... Thanks for watching and taking the time to contribute ..... Dave
If no one has mentioned: the two wires are 4 gauge, double them up you get double the amperage( about 175 amp). You want the highest amperage from your batteries to inverter. Especially if your running things like microwave’s and AC.
Hi ClarkyMalarky ... thank you so much for taking the time to explain that- you're right, in all this time no one has mentioned that. Truthfully, I have no idea what your talking about but I'll assume you're correct. The community needs people like you to contribute ... hope you'll stop back and join in .............. Dave
Renogy has a diagram on their website TODAY which shows a 250A fuse on DC side of their 2000W inverter.
LOL Chipper 77 thanks for letting me know .... they may very well have had one when I installed too......... I'm not always the best as looking at instructions !!!!! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment ..... Be well and stop back .... Dave
Well, the "original" original plan is from Will Prowse. He didn't think of it himself.
@@gr0uch02a Yes it is Will’s layout. I credited him in the original wiring video. On his plan it says “size to inverter” I guess he didn’t want to assume what I would choose to install. I should have researched more. Thanks for commenting - hope you’ll stop back. Dave
Thanks for the video! I just installed the same inverter in my trailer. In your video at about 8:50, you hoist the inverter up to its mounting position, come in with the socket and drill to fix the upper mounting bolts, and then you fail to get a connection with the socket to the bolt. The picture fades out, and I hear you say, huh...! That was EXACTLY my experience. They designed the mounting holes too far under the inverter housing to get a straight shot with even a screwdriver, much less a socket and wrench. I ended up using Phillips screws and a screwdriver angled in to secure the inverter in position. Really poor design.
I had to contact Renogy with a question, and the reply came back as a mixture of English as a second language and cut-and-paste technical text. I never did get a coherent response.
Hey Solar Steve - thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. You're right, now I realize I should have mentioned how clumsy mounting the unit to the wall was. I too used some Robertson screws with washers. It's really sad how many builders have had just terrible experiences with Renogy customer service (shouldn't even call it that). You think they would hear about it ......... Be well, I hope you stop back ... Dave
Hello and thanks for the video. I was wondering do you have a refrigerator in your build. And if so, how did you hook it up to your solar. Just another confusing topic in van life, that i wish u could explain.
Happy New Year Transformational - thanks for watching and taking the time to ask. Yes we have a cooler in our build - and as fate wouild have it it's the topic of my next video ( I had to make a few adjustments to it) so stay tuned. But to answer your question. All coolers and fridges will require at least a 12 volt power source. I would suggest you want one that runs on both 12 volt and 120 that way when shore power is available you don't drain your batteries. Whatever type of power - you just run the appropriate wires to where the fridge will be and mount the appropriate plug. I'll have photos in the next video (probably next week) - but you can see more about the wiring in these .... th-cam.com/video/yR793YfwFdA/w-d-xo.html, th-cam.com/video/W8XOElaBEJQ/w-d-xo.html. , th-cam.com/video/hzXNuC6bqYc/w-d-xo.html and there are others :) ...... be well and stop back ....... Dave
@@VanOfAction Dave thanks so much again for taking the timeout to respond. Will look forward to seeing your vid. Thanks again and Happy New Year to you and your fam!
I dont think you have to keep changing the plugs over when on or off shore power. The Renogy inverters have the ability to automatically switch to DC when shore power is disconnected. I think its referred to as UPS.
Hi mange2 - thanks for watching and thanks for the comment. I may be wrong but you may be thinking of the unit that is both an Inverter (that makes 12 current suitable for 110) and a Converter (that lets you charge your batteries from house current). My set up is only an inverter so the house current is never attached to it - so I have to switch them back and forth to suit. Hope you'll stop back ..... Dave
I have never seen anyone do this and I absolutely love the idea. Yes you can buy a switch or an inverter/charge, but a $5 power strip and one extra step when operating with shore power does the same thing. Adding this to my van. Thanks for the great idea!
hi Dave, please help me with a information. is it possible for the red positive wire to be 2-3 meters long? I don't have the possibility to install the inverter near the battery. Also do I need to have the ground wire coming from the battery, or could i wite it closer, the truck chassis somewhere. thanks
Hi @adr. Thanks for watching the video and feeling comfortable asking your question. Unfortunately I don’t know enough about this to give you such detailed advice. My video was to demonstrate how easy the installation can be if it’s according to the simple instructions. You may try asking Will Prouse at DIY solar. He’s an expert and the guy I got my design from. Good luck my friend. ….. Dave
I understand buying like products but batteries and panels I’d buy whatever.
Hi Archer - thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. I understand now what you’re saying about the panels. But I still don’t know enough about batteries, or maybe more importantly battery management systems to comfortably mix and match. It is however more economical for those that do. That’s the great thing about van conversions - you work to your ability. Be well and I hope you stop back……… Dave
How did you connect the ground? My renogy inverter came with 3 nuts and 2 split lock washers for a single bolt /post ...
Hi Marion - thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I connected the black wires to the negative bus bar which grounds the complete system. Hope that helps .... be well and stop back ....... Dave
@@VanOfAction Hi Dave, thx for reply!! I was more wondering how to arrange the 3 nuts and 2 split lock washers on that little inverter case grounding bolt. Not the main DC-IN cables.
Hi Marion - that's not ringing a bell for me .... let me walk down to the van and check !!
Hi Marion - I only have a red and a black wire on my inverter. There is no ground. Can you send me a photo or short video ? vanofaction@gmail.com
Hi will this set up run a 2.2kw electric air compressor??
Hi Guy ….. I’m sorry but I have no idea. Wish I could help. Dave
Hey mate what is the size of the battery powering your inverter?
Hi - thanks for watching. I have 2 - 100 Amp Hour lithium batteries. Hope that helps and that you’ll stop back. Dave
2 12v 100 batteries parallel or 24v? Thanks
Cables supplied with the inverter are test cables, not permanent cables
John - thanks for taking the time to come back ----- honestly, I have no idea what to say. Are you suggesting Renogy sends out "test" cables that are capable of testing the equipment under load but are not capable of working under the same load ?? I'm just a carpenter - but that sounds crazy to me !!! When the breaker broke and I upgraded, I tested I tested by feeling the wires and there is no heat at all on an of the wires - which is clearly a very basic (but I think realistic test). I didn't read anything in the manual about the wires that are shipped should not be used - and I no longer have it - but please, where did you get that idea ?
All reputable electrical solar people say 0-1 cable and 200amp fuse are needed for a 200 watt inverter, do what you want,, but never use 4 gadgets wire on a 200 watt inverter
Thanks John - I appreciate you coming back and letting me know -I'll be doing more research over the winter and let everyone know it I learn anything. I guess for me the hardest part of what you said is ....... "All reputable electrical solar people say 0-1 cable and 200amp fuse are needed for a 200 watt inverter" ...... Finding someone like that was a challenge for me which is why I want total DIY - it wasn't the plan as explained in the first few minutes of this video ... th-cam.com/video/Co_3pgQKeKQ/w-d-xo.html. Be well and safe my friend .. I hope you stop back and share some more. Dave
i thought heat guns were only 15 amps
Did you figure out how to ground your inverter? That is what I am trying to figure out next.
Hi Jean. Thanks for watching. I’m not an electrician so this information and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee. But - I believe that since the Inverters black wire is connected to the negative bus it is grounded through the system. There were no instructions for separate grounding (that I saw) in my inverter. If you hear otherwise let me know. Be sure to stop back. Dave.
What size fuse was on your battery. Thank you
Hi redwood - Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment = I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you mean, can you please expand on your question .... Dave
I thought you had 2 100 ah lifepo4 batteries. With a fuse on the positive terminal out.
@@redwood1957 I have 2 100 ah Smart Renergy batteries which are basically the same thing. The breaker (fuse) is the one that blew when I first installed the inverter. I had sized it the same as the breaker coming from the front battery because I wasn't thinking about the inverter. The data says it should be 200 ampo, but I installed a 175. H
@@VanOfAction I'm doing 2 100 ah in parallel as you did. I found out I have to have a class t fuse on positive out.
The fuse you have is just for wires after the breaker.
@@redwood1957 Thanks for the reply. I'm a carpenter and I certainly wouldn't consider arguing with anyone about this. My design was provided by Will Prouse - I couldn't quickly find the plan that I used -BUT - in this video starting at 12:13 ..... th-cam.com/video/IRRKHYwB3Uo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=49UdCQ0NC4XTuEfh You'll see he runs the positive cable from the battery directly to the one side of the 170amp breaker. Al the other positive feeds go out the other side. Now...... to me a breaker and a fuse do exactly the same thing. So I think we are on the same page ... just using different words ...... be well and stop back.... Dave
had a similar experience with renogy customer service, and I expressed my dissatisfaction and they didn't seem to care, so I took my business elsewhere.
Hi Road Not Taken - thanks for taking the time to watch and comment - Renogy is such an odd company. EVERYTHING I bought from them has worked exactly as expected right out of the box. The only reason I tried to call them was because they screwed up and sent me something better than I wanted - which is kinda out there. .... Anyway ... be well and stop back ... Dave
They only check there email every 10 days 😅😂 damn that's crazy
Hi big man. - Thanks for watching and commenting. I don’t how often they read it, but certainly don’t reply very well. Hope life is good for you …….
Dave
No renergy!
2000 watt inverter requires 0-1 cable ,yours looks a 4 cable maybe
Hi John - thanks for taking the time - truly, like most carpenters I don't understand the numbers very well. Your thoughts would be appreciated and helpful to everyone. Which wires are you referring to ?? The Red and Black that I installed in this video came with the inverter. The wires from to / from the battery are 4 gauge as per the design from Will Prouse (the sketch) Nothing gets warm under a load ..... what is the concern ?
Try measuring voltage at battery and at inverter ... Too small or too long cables can cause a voltage drop.
You need bigger wiring for 200w. Gonna burn your van down
Hi Matt - thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Which wiring are you referring to ? All wires were sized according to the tables for loads and runs .... but I may have read it wrong ........ Dave
Wow horrible 😳
Thanks for stopping by.